Combined step-ladder and ironing-board.



'PA-TENTED JULY'Q, 1907.

F. W. WIGMORE. COMBINED STEP LADDER AND IRONING B0 ARD.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23. 1907.

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FRANK W. WIGMORE, OF

BASSWOOD, MANITOBA, CANADA, ASSIGNOR TO THE MANSON CAMPBELL COMPANY, LTD., OF CHATHAM, CANADA.

COMBINED STEP-LADDER AND IRON IN G-BOARD.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed March 23,1907- Serialllo. 364,097.

Patented July 9, 1907.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK W. WIGMORE, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Basswood, in the Province of Manitoba, and Dominion of Canada,

have invented new anduseful Improvements in a Combined Step-Ladder and Ironing-Board, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to an improvement in combined step-ladders and ironing boards, comprehending a structure which may be conveniently and readily converted to provide either of said articles.

The main object of the present invention is the pro vision of a structure arranged to provide a step-ladder ofordinary form, the parts of which are adaptedifor operation to convert the step-ladder into a stable ironing board support.

The invention will be described in the following specification, reference being had particularly to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a view in side elevation showing my improvement with the parts arranged to provide a stepladdcr, Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same, the iron ing board proper being omitted, Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the improvement arranged to ing board support, the ironing board being shown in position, Fig. 4. is a view of the improvement folded into compact form for storage, Fig. 5 is a broken bottom perspective of the ironing board, Fig. 6 is a top plan of the head step for the ladder.

Referring particularly to the drawings, my improve ment comprises a step-ladder proper including front or step standards 1 and rear or brace standards 2, each arranged in parallel relation and the former connected by any desired form of steps 3 and the latter connected by brace rods 1. Each standard 1 is made up of two sections 5 and 6, of approximately equal lengths with their proximate ends hinged at 7, so that when the respective sections are extended they will be disposed One of the sections, as the upper section provided on the rear edge adjacent its pin 8 carrying at its inner or free end a link 9, the adjacent end of the opposing section 6 being provided with a similar pin 10 carrying a pivoted head 1].. The pins 8 and 10 are so relatively disposed that when the sections are extended in alinement the head 11 may be turned upward to permit passage of the link over said head and pin, after which the head is turned down to prevent accidental disengagement of the link. The sections 5 and 6 are thus secured in extended or alined relation by a fastening means which permits ready disconnection when desired to fold the sections. The rear or brace standards 2 are also formed in practically duplicate sections 12 5, is preferably hinge connection with a provide an ironand 13, the relatively lower ends of the sections 12 being provided with my brackets 14 to slidingly embrace the upper ends of the sections 13, while the adjacent ends of said sections 13 are provided with similar brackets 15 to slidably embrace thesections 12, said latter brackets being provided with set screws 16, whereby the respective sections 12 and 13 may be secured in fully extended relation, in fully closed or collapsed relation, or in any intermediate position.

The head step for the ladder comprises a platform 17 of appropriate size, secured at the relatively forward edge to the upper ends of the sections 5 of the step standards, said platform having depending side flanges 18, extending in rear of the step standards, to which flanges the upper ends of the sections 12 of the brace standards are pivotally secured at 19. In rear of the pivotal point 19 of the brace standards the platform is provided on the under side with stop blocks 20 arranged in alinement longitudinally of the platform with the brace standards, the forward faces of the blocks 20 serving to limit the relatively rear pivotal movement of the brace standards, thereby positioning said standards when extended in a proper position for bracing service.

The relatively rear edge of the head step 17 is provided with a transversely arranged strip 21, which at spaced points between the brace standards is formed with notches 22, the head step being similarly formed with registering notches 23. A pivot bolt 24 extends longitudinally of the strip 21 bridging the notches therein, as shown in Fig. 6.

The ironing board comprises a section 25 of appropriate length and width provided at the relatively rear edges with hinge members 26, the latter being preferably in the form of plates secured to the under surface of the board and projected therefrom in the form of spring coils, as shown in Fig. 5. These coils are formed to provide for the manual engagement thereof with the pivot rod 24, the hinge members being so spaced as to register with the respective notches 22.

In the use of the, device as a ladder the respective sections of the step standards are fully extended and secured against independent movement, thereby providing the structure illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. -In this position the ironing board, if connected with the structure, will depend in rear of the brace standards supported by its hinged connection with'the head step. In this arrangement of parts the structure is adapted for any and all purposes to which a step-ladder may be put. When desiring to provide an ironing board support the fastening for the step standards is disconnected, the set screws 16 loosened, the brace standards collapsed by sliding-the lower sections in full length upon the upper sections, and the step standards folded upon the hinge connection to dispose the lower sections 6 in practically parallel relation with the rear or brace standards. The board 25 is then turned upon its hinge connection until it rests upon the head steps 17, in which position the lower or free ends of the sections 6 of the brace standards will rest beneath and engage a portion of the board beyond the head step. The board is preferably formed with notches 27 to receive the free ends of the sections 6, to prevent independent movement of said sections. In this position the structure provides a complete ironing board and support therefor, the collapsed brace standards and the lower section 6 of the step standards serving as supports for the board, While the upper sections 5 of the step standards serve as brace members extending diagonally from the upper ends of the brace standards to the relatively lower ends of the sections 6. The structure is thus effectively braced to provide a stable support for the board.

With the structure in ironing boards supporting position it is to be noted that the respective steps joining the step standard sections 5 and 6 are alined longitudinally of the structure, whereby to provide an additional series of supports on which may be temporarily placed the bosom boards, ironing supports, and other accessories of the ironing operation The structure described provides a simple device which may be readily converted into a step-ladder or ironing board support, and which when not required for use may be folded into the compact form illustrated in Fig. 4 for convenient storage.

The preferred form of details described may be varied without materially affecting the function of the device, and it is, therefore, to be understood that I consider as within the spirit of the present invention such changes and variations as may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new, is:-

1. A combined step-ladder and ironing board comprising step standards including hinged sections, brace standards including slidably connected sections, means for securing the sections of the step standards in alined position, means for securing the sections of the brace standards in extended position, and an ironing board having hinged connection with the structure and adapted to be supported upon the brace standards and upon the free ends of one of the step standard sections.

2. A combined step-ladder and ironing board comprising step standards including hinged sections, brace standards including slidably connected sections, means for securing the sections of the step standards in alined position, means for securing the sections of the brace standards in extended position, and an ironing board having hinged connection with the structure and adapted to be supported upon the brace standards and upon the free ends of one of the step standard sections, the remaining step standard sections forming a diagonal brace between the supporting step standard sections and the brace standards.

3. A combined step-ladder and ironing board comprising step-standards including hinged sections, brace standards including slidably connected sections, means for securing the sections of the step standards in alincd position, means for securing the sections of the brace standards in extended position, a head step fixedly connected to the upper ends of the step standards and having pivotal connection with the upper ends of the brace standards, stop blocks carried by the head step to limit the movement of the brace standards in one direction, and an ironing board having removable hinge connection with the head step.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK W. WIGMORE.

Two Witnesses H. G. CU'r'rLn, Z hICLEAN. 

